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DigiPlaySpace shows off cutting edge technology for kids

Award-winning exhibition returns just in time for March Break with games and installations to keep the kids busy, learning and playing with technology.

One of the loudest and most fun activities at the Tiff DigiPlaySpace exhibit was Super Pong, a mash-up of foosball and the classic video game. (Colin McConnell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Fans of Elmo can dance along with the little monster in the Sesame Street Kids workshop where green-screen technology projects visitors’ images beside the furry red celebrity.
(Colin McConnell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

In PaperDude VR players strap on a headset, ride a bike and try to throw newspapers into virtual mailboxes all while clearing things out of their path.
(Colin McConnell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

The TIFF Kids DigiPlaySpace at the Bell Lightbox opens Saturday, just in time for March Break. Now in its third year, this award-winning exhibition features robots, video games, neat installations and more to keep the kids busy, learning and playing with technology.

“(DigiPlaySpace) features new installations from the best new media installation makers in the world. It really needs to be seen to be believed. It’s a phenomenal space,” said Piers Handling, director and CEO of TIFF at a sneak preview Thursday. “Let me assure you it’s as much fun for us big kids, as it is for the little ones.”

Last year, DigiPlaySpace won the 2013 Ontario Museum Association award for excellence in programs.

“The way we put it together is by looking all around the world for cool new media art pieces, interactive animations and keeping up to speed on all the new technologies,” said Nick Pagee, curator of DigiPlaySpace. “And then picking the things that have real cultural or artistic merit that are educationally relevant for kids that will help them learn through play.”

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On the ground floor of the Lightbox, visitors are greeted by Halo, an installation by Vancouver-based artists Alex Beim and Travis Kirton. Essentially it’s a series of rings that light up on a 20-foot wall in response to people’s movements.

Just inside the space is the Canadian premiere of Water Light Graffiti, an installation from French new media artist Antonin Fourneau, which is a wall of thousands of LEDs, which light up when touched by water.

But one of the loudest and most fun activities was Super Pong, a mash-up of foosball and the classic video game where up to eight players can join in on the fun, each controlling a knob that corresponds to paddles on the screen. Created by Super Uber, artists and a designer from Rio de Janeiro, it’s a great, expanded multiplayer take on one of the first video games.

“We like the minimal games, and minimal concepts and interaction,” said Liana Brazil. one of the creators. “Mixing Pong with foosball you get something that should have existed forever, but is very unique because they get so excited because they get to play with each other in a physical, exciting environment,”

Among the other highlights at DigiPlaySpace:

PaperDude VR is an exhibit by Toronto-based Globacore, which mixes a bike, the Oculus Rift — a very buzzy new virtual reality headset — and a game based on Paperboy, the classic arcade game. Players strap on the headset, ride the bike and try to throw newspapers into mailboxes all while clearing things out of their path.

Fans of Elmo can dance along with the little monster in the Sesame Street Kids workshop where green-screen technology projects visitors’ images beside the furry red celebrity.

There is also a Micro Maker fair, where kids can check out 3D printing and a speedway where they can race Spheros, robotic balls controlled by a phone app.

DigiPlaySpace admission is $10 for non-members, but there is also a combination pack that includes a movie available from the box office. While the exhibit is expected to be busy for March Break, Pagee says it is a ticketed event so crowds should be manageable. DigiPlaySpace runs for the next six weeks from March 8 until April 21.

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